Biopsy needle



July 11, 1967 s. GOLDSMITH 3,330,268

BIOPSY NEEDLE Filed Dec. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR SIDNEY GOLDSM/TH July 11, 1967 5, s rr 3,330,268

BIOPSY NEEDLE Filed Dec. 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8

INVENTO SIDNEY 601.0 76

34, flaw-4A United States Patent 3,330,268 BIOPSY NEEDLE Sidney Goldsmith, 929 Tyson Ave, Philadelphia, Pa. 19111 Filed Dec. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 331,561 1 Claim. (Cl. 1282) This invention relates to an improved biopsy needle and more particularly to an improved biopsy needle for use in combination with a syringe for taking soft tissue specimens.

Biopsy needles of this type are useful in taking soft tissue specimens, particularly specimens from the liver, kidney, skin, breast and thyroid. Soft tissue biopsy needles heretofore available have had recognized disadvantages. Thus, the core or specimen was frequently fragmented by the needle and it was ditlicult to obtain a continuous, unbroken biopsy specimen. In addition, certain of the needles would readily break when inserted and manipulated in the tissue with the resultant difiiculties, inconveniences, and danger associated with the removal of the broken needle end.

It is a prime object of the present invention to overcome the difiiculties and disadvantages heretofore encountered, and to provide a biopsy needle for taking soft tissue specimens having an improved cutting edge, which is more effective in cutting and coring a biopsy specimen, and which provides a clean, unfragmented core which is more easily studied.

A further object is the provision of an improved biopsy needle of the above type, which will not readily break when inserted and manipulated in the tissue for the purpose of taking a specimen.

My invention also contemplates the provision of improved auxiliary devices for use with my improved biopsy needle. Thus, I provide an improved biopsy stop for insertion into the end of the needle for limiting the length of the core which is drawn into the needle. I also provide an improved trocar, having an improved form of point for making the initial penetration into the tissue.

For a fuller understanding of my invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of an improved biopsy needle embodying my invention, together with my improved associated devices, including a trocar, biopsy stop and stylet;

FIG. 2 is a side view with portions broken away, showing the trocar inserted into the tissue to make the initial penetration;

FIG. 3 is a stop plan view on an enlarged scale of the end portion of my improved biopsy needle, showing the beveled end and the tapered cutting edge;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal, sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the end portion of the needle and indicating the concave arrangement of the cutting edge;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal, sectional view through the hub and end portion of the needle and showing the biopsy stop inserted therein;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line 66 of FIG. 5, showing the hub and the biopsy stop inserted therein;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line 7-7 of FIG. 5 showing the crosssectional shape of the biopsy stop; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view showing a biopsy needle embodying my invention attached to a syringe and with central portions of the needle omitted.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, my improved biopsy needle is shown generally at 10. The auxiliary devices which may be used with my improved biopsy needle are also shown in FIG. 1, and comprise the trocar shown generally at 20 for making the initial penetration into the flesh or tissue, the biopsy stop shown generally at 30 for limiting the length of the core or specimen drawn into the needle, and the stylet 40 which is used for cleaning out the bore through the needle and which may be inserted in the needle while it is not in use.

In using my biopsy needle, it is applied to a syringe such as the syringe shown at 50 in FIG. 8.

My improved biopsy needle comprises a cannula 11 having a central bore surrounded by a tubular side wall made of suitable metal, such as steel or stainless steel. It is provided with an improved sharpened, beveled end 12, and the opposite end is provided with a suitable hub or fittting 14, whereby it may be releasably applied to a syringe 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the syringe is provided with a Luer type of fitting. Thus, it has an enlarged cavity or opening 16, larger than the bore of the cannula, for receiving the tip 53 of the needle. At its outer end, it has oppositely disposed, laterally projecting flange portions 15 which engage with projections formed the Luer fittting 52 provided at the end of the syringe barrel 51.

The illustrated hub and fitting are of a well known type. In applying it to the syringe barrel, the tip of the syringe is inserted in the cavity 16 and the flanged end 15 of the needle is inserted in the Luer fitting 52 of the syringe barrel and rotated to locked position. To release the needle, it is simply rotated in the opposite direction and withdrawn.

The end of the cannula is of improved construction. Thus, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the Wall of the cannula is tubular having an outer surface surrounding a central bore having an inner surface. The remote end of the cannula terminates in end portion 17 that is generally inclined with a slight concavity at an angle of to degrees with respect to the axis of cannula 11. The end portion 17 is also beveled at an angle greater than 60 to 65 degrees starting from said outer surface and the bevel extending inwardly to the end of cannula 11 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The bevel thereby produces a sharpened edge 18 with its outermost point designated 19' along the maximum longitudinal axis of the inner surface, and the innermost sharpened edge designated 19 along the maximum longitudinal axis of the inner surface. I have found that beveling the sharpened edge of the needle and by arranging the edge so that it is concavely disposed between the points intersected by the minimum and maximum longitudinal axis of the cannula, I obtain an improved cutting effect similar to that which would be obtained by a serrated edge.

It will be appreciated that the hub 14 is suitably staked or otherwise secured to the end of the cannula 11 opposite the beveled sharpened edge 12.

The trocar 28 is in the form of a solid rod made of a suitable metal, such as steel or stainless steel, and has a handle 23 at one end for conveniently grasping and manipulating the trocar. The handle may be provided with a knurled or similar frictional edge to prevent slipping in the hand.

The opposite end of the trocar is formed with my improved pointed end 21. The pointed end is conical in longitudinal shape, terminating in a sharp point and the trocar is circular in cross-section throughout its length. 1 preferably provide the pointed end with a marking 22, such as a scribe mark, extending around the circumference thereof at a suitable distance from the point to indicate the suggested depth of penetration into the flesh or tissue when it is used for making the initial penetration. In this connection, I have found that satisfactory results are achieved if the mark 22 is disposed approximately /2" from the point.

Referring now to the biopsy stop shown at 30, this device likewise is made of a suitable metaLsuch assteel or stainless steel. It is formed with a straight shank portion and with an angularly disposed handle portion 31.

tween the stop and the wall'of the cannula while serving as a stop to limit the entry of the tissue into the cannula. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the stop has two flat parallel side edges and two curved edges. When inserted in the cannula, segmentalshaped pasageways are provided between the stop and the inside surface of the wall of the. cannula. The handle 31 is of a size and shape to frictionally engage the inner surface of the hub when the stop is inserted through the hub into the cannula in the manner most clearly shown'in FIG. 5. Thus, when the stop is inserted in the cannula in this fashion, it is frictionally held in place. When the biopsy needle is applied to a syringe with the stop inserted therein, liquids can be ejected from the syringe and drawn into the syringe through the cannula and past the stop. However, the stop will'serve as a block to limit the entry of tissue into the cannula. v V

The stylet 40 is in the form of a cylindrical rod of suitable metal, such as steel or stainless steel, and has an enlarged handle portion 41 applied to the end thereof.

The stylet is of a cross-sectional size to fit inside the bore of the cannula. The length of the stylet is such that it will extend at least for the entire length of the cannula 'when inserted through the hub or fitting portion 14.

The stylet may be employed in the usual manner for cleaning the interior of the cannula. Thus, it may be inserted into the bore of the cannula through the hub and syringe containing approximately 2 ml. of saline, as shown a in FIG. 8. The trocar 20 is then employed to make the initial penetration through theskin and into the tissue at a point in registry with the organ or tissue where the biopsy is to be taken. In this connection, the pointed end of the 'trocar is inserted approximately to the marking 22. The trocar is then removed and the beveled, pointed end 12 f the biopsy needle is inserted to the proper depth or adjacent to the organ or area of the tissue where thebiopsy or specimen is to be taken. One ml.

of saline is then injected from thesyringe to clear the bore of 'the cannula. The syringe is then aspirated to apply suction to the needle and the point of the needle is simultaneously and rapidly thrust forwardly to the predetermined depth. In this connection, the thrust should be straight forward and no rotation is applied to the needle. The beveled, sharp, pointed edge of the needle cuts a clean, unfragrnented core which can enter intothe cannula to the end of the biopsy stop.

The needle is then immediately withdrawn from the tissue, and the tissue biopsy is expelled from the needle by ejecting the remaining saline from the syringe.

Thebiopsy or specimen thus expelled from the needle is in the form of a clean, unfragrnented core which may be'readily studied and examined.

r V 4 r The biopsy needle may be cleaned removing it from the end of the'syringe and thereafter ejecting the biopsy stop from inside the cannula. 7, i This may be accomplished by inserting the stylet through the beveled end 12 of the needle to force the stop outwardly through the hub or Luer fitting. The stylet is then usedto scrape or removefrom the interior i of the cannula any remaining portions of tissue. The

biopsy needle and the associated'parts including the trocar, biopsy'stop' and .stylet are thereafter washed' and sterilized in the usual manner. The syringe 50 may likewise be sterilized in the usual manner.

My improved biopsy needle maybe used in connection" with any type of soft tissue. I havefound that it is par-' ticularly useful in taking specimens of the liver, kidney,

skin, breast or thyroid- I have found that a 14-,gauge, 3"

needle serves very satisfactorily for liver biopsies,- that' a l4-gauge, 4 /2" needle serves very satisfactorily for kidney biopsies, and that an lS-gauge, 2" needle serves very satisfactorily for skin, breast and thyroid biopsies.

It will thus be seen that I have'provided an improved biopsy' needle, particularly suitablefor taking soft tissue specimens, which will not readily break when inserted and manipulated in the'tissue and which has an improved,"

sharp, beveled edge which cuts clean, unfragmented cores which may be easily studied.

. Modifications may be made in the illustrated and if. scribed embodiment of my invention without departing;

from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claim.

I claim:

A biopsy needle for use. with a syringe for taking tissue specimens comprising a cannula having a tubular wall' with an outer surface surrounding a central bore having an inner surface,'one end of said cannula being connected to means opening into a larger bore for attachment to a syringe, the other end of said cannula terminating in an end portion concavely inclined at-an angle of 60 to degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of said cannula, said'endportion having a bevel' formed therearound extending from said outer surface to said'inner surface at an anglegreater than 60 to 65 degrees and terminating at a sharpened edge in line with said inner.

surface for penetrating tissue, anda biopsy stop adapted to be engaged within and extend partially along said central bore, said stop having a shank portion comprising two pairs of opposite sides, one-pair of sides being curved to frictionally abut said inner surface of the central bore to holdsaid stop in place, and the other pair of sides being straight andparallel to each other so as to leave a clearance between, said parallel sides and said'inner surface to allow the passage of liquid without allowing the passage of tissue, and said stop further having a connected handle portiondisposed at an angle to said shank portionand located within said larger bore when said shank is located within said cannula.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD AJGAUDET, Primary Examiner.

SIMON BRODER, Examiner.

and reused by first V 

